Real Style

I often wonder about dressing for relaxed country weekends. On one hand, I’m always keen to unwind, curl up in cozy sweaters, and trade in my usual stilettos for a pair of comfy mukluks. Then again, if there’s a social aspect to the agenda, country chic maybe be a better dress code to adhere to—especially for those who are adamant …

While I’m all for walking on style’s wild side if the spirit moves you, there’s something comforting to be said about classic, no nonsense good taste. And while we can all usually learn something from the examples set by others, most often, great taste is an inherent thing—something your mother can help you cultivate perhaps, but you either have it, …

When it comes to the subject of style, some men will be boys—playful, irreverent, spirited, and impish. And in this busy, high-pressure world, where many males see shopping as a stressful chore and feel obligated to live up to certain style expectations, it’s always refreshing to find those guys who exude a genuine enthusiasm for the art of dressing up. …

We all know our fair share of fashionistas—those style-obsessed women of all ages who subscribe to all the haute trends, master the art of shopping at all the right stores, and sport all the right labels. These gals think long and hard about the image they want to convey, spending as much time honing their personal fashion philosophies as they …

Beyond any wild prints or flashy styles, the first thing I usually see when I encounter a person of real style is their sense of inner confidence. They ooze a kind of upbeat energy that transcends what they’re actually wearing, and they never fail to leave an indelible mark on my mental roster of fashionable subjects. Over the past few …

“Skyscraper heels with a matching strap on my bass!” That’s Saya Gray’s answer when asked about her style trademark. And sure enough, as I walked along Queen St. E. recently, on the opening night of the Beaches Jazz Festival, it was the stunning blonde in the sky-high wedges, with an electric bass guitar strapped across her body, who made me …

Some people are so passionate about what they do, that they revel in dressing the part. And that’s exactly the sense I get from Dr. Sara Diamond, OCAD University’s President and Vice Chancellor. As head of the prestigious Toronto art and design school, it’s apparent from Dr. Diamond’s sartorial approach that she lives and breathes her métier: She’s an out-of-the-box …

While red carpet dressing may be the stuff that dreams are made of, dressing for the prom is the next best thing for high school girls—the ultimate platform to strut one’s stuff, and make striking style statements. My prom, in the late ‘60s —held at Casa Loma—inspired me to concoct an original outfit that was both whimsically creative and memorable. …

“Bold”, “edgy”, and “glamourous” may not be the first adjectives that spring to mind when you’re on your way to the wilds of Scarborough. But someone I recently met at the Centennial Ice Galaxy skating rink could definitely be described in those terms. Piper Gilles is a spunky, style savvy skater who, together with her handsome partner Paul Poirier, is …

Beaulieu sur Mer, France Personal style is usually the subject of this column: the machinations of editing one’s wardrobe, the garments and accessories that help show the world who we are, the business of strutting it all with joy. But recently, on the French Riviera, wardrobe was merely a springboard for the imagination, as I witnessed two dapper Irish gentlemen …

While subtlety and classic good taste usually make for great style, I’ll be the first to wildly applaud someone who goes the extra distance, and approaches dressing as artistic expression. I love being wowed, and seeing someone exude passion and fearlessness with their personal style is always exhilarating. Recently, at a designer event at The Room, I feasted my eyes …

REAL STYLE: MATT DUSK I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for romantic young men with a penchant for the past. Couple that with charisma, silken vocal chords and suave style, and Toronto’s Matt Dusk fits the bill. The 34-year-old crooner, who just released his 5th album, “My Funny Valentine: The Chet Baker Songbook”, is decidedly debonair, as …

Rubbing shoulders with the world’s most stylish people isn’t something I ever aspired to do. It simply came with the territory once I found myself in fashion’s trenches, reporting on a world inhabited by those with a heightened sense of aesthetics. And because I’ve met so many different types of stylish people, I’m often asked who my own personal style …

“Oh my God! I think that’s Snow White!” commented Jessica Stam, just after the recent Rodarte show in New York. Stam and I were chatting out on the sidewalk, when the Canadian supermodel caught a glimpse of a dark-haired beauty standing just outside the W. 22nd St. show venue. The fairy-tale perfect fashionista that Stam spotted was none other than …

REAL STYLE: Leslie Keevill I often wonder about dressing for relaxed country weekends. On one hand, I’m always keen to unwind, curl up in cozy sweaters, and trade in my usual stilettos for a pair of comfy mukluks. Then again, if there’s a social aspect to the agenda, country chic maybe be a better dress code to adhere to—especially for …

I meet lots of beautiful women in my line of work, and happily, they come in all shapes and sizes. But it’s those women who unapologetically embrace who they are that I look up to most—women who accept themselves, follow their hearts and find joy in dressing up not for the world, but for themselves. I guess it all comes …

I was in the thick of perusing the men’s fare at Harry Rosen’s on Bloor St. over the holidays, on a mission to help a friend with a wardrobe make-over: Women’s fashion wasn’t even on my radar. But when I looked up from the sweater sale table and saw a statuesque blonde oozing the kind of arresting style that makes …

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about great style, it’s that those who have it invariably have a strong point of view. Whether it has to do with aesthetic or attitude—or a combination of both—seeing the world in a particular, passionate way is usually key to choosing the pieces that can best help you express yourself. For 24-year-old Hilary Sampliner, …

While certain jobs may seem forthright, there are often aspects to them that have a secret appeal. For example, back in 1974, I was engaged as a hostess at Toronto’s Old Spaghetti Factory. As a performer by nature, and an aspiring broadcaster, one of the greatest joys of my job was having the privilege of announcing over the PA system, …

It may sound like an old cliché, but I do love a man in a uniform—especially when that ‘uniform’ is a contemporary, slick sartorial statement that speaks of professionalism and success, with just a hint of whimsy thrown in for good measure. Meet David Townley, a strapping 56 year-old chartered accountant, who specializes in mergers and acquisitions, and whose classic …